Our Ph.D. program in microbiology
offers an individualized approach to graduate study
in one of the nation's largest teaching and research
institutions. You will actively participate in
planning your graduate program, working with colleagues
from around the world while pursuing your Ph.D.
degree.
Upon
entering our graduate program, you will do five-week
rotations in three laboratories of your
choice. These rotations will expose you to a variety
of researchers, their laboratories,
and their
specializations and should enable you to select
an adviser who
best suits your interests. Once you have selected
your dissertation adviser -- generally after about
six months -- you will work with your Ph.D. adviser
to design a curriculum that complements your research
project.
You will select courses from a broad spectrum
of microbiology, including microbial genetics and
physiology, immunology, fermentation technology,
pathogenic microbiology, and environmental microbiology.
You can also enroll in a variety of courses offered
by related departments such as biochemistry, molecular
genetics, and chemistry.
Your course work will be supplemented by participation
in informal laboratory group meetings, journal
clubs, and our departmental seminar series that
features prominent research scientists at academic
and industrial laboratories from Ohio State University
and around the world. You will have the opportunity
to meet with these scientists and discuss your
research projects with them.
To help you develop communication skills, we offer
a seminar series that gives you practice in presenting
your work before a friendly audience. Each microbiology
graduate student has several opportunities to present
research papers at national or international meetings
during his or her graduate career. Annual research
competitions give you the opportunity to present
your research to a wider audience and to compete
for awards that honor the best presentations.
